The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12
SAINT AGNES.
BY HENRY II. INGRAM.

hated accounts and my delight cal
be understood when / was offieiall,
notified one morning by my firm tina
had been placed upon the road il
other words, had been made drum
mer. Fortune seemed pstting me or
the back when l was told that my
outlined route passed through Mesh
vile, Tenn, and included a stay of 9
week in that city. In Nashville my
college chum, Bob Seven, had estsb.
lished himself end Office. We haG
been the David and Jouathan of oul
class, and hsd.not met for year.
listened attentively to instructions
which mingled themselves with 8
mental panorama of Bob's hearty
greeting.
A few days later and the instruc
tons were being followed to the letter
and Bob's hand clasped mine and
Bob's voice was CHEEKY in my ear.
This was but few years after the
war Of secession. Nashville had re
covered from it's fleets with surpris-
ing elasticity, and public works were
rapidly progressing. After comfort.
able dinner and a talk of old times
Bob proposed walk to see the new
Suspension Bridge, then the pride Of
the city, though l am told the growth
Of the place has since necessitated an
other ar d larger structure. Wepassed
the public square with the market and
dingy courthouse in the center, passed
the historic scene of the Jackson and
Benton encounter, descended q slight
slope to the bridge, and looked from
its railing to the Cumberland flowing
below; Bob called upon me to note
ita dizzy towers and the long graceful
curve of the immense wire cables as
they swung from the high piers, like
q slack rope, to within a foot of the
floor / remember that we noted the
diameter ss being net lees than eight
or nine inches.
The bridge connected the city,
bristlirg with busy brick blocks"
with the country like suburb OF Edge
field, a village of trees, empowered
homes, ideal retreat OF luxurious ease.
comfort and taste.
We sauntered toward the Edgefield
end and fell again into college chat.
I'D We PdbDCu nIOuhu thO LOIL Vi u
pier we came out face to face with a
line of vehicles passing on to the
central roadway.
CHANGING along the slowly moving
line, my eye Yves suddenly arrested,
and an unconscious exclamation
passed my lips. Seated in an elegant
landau with top thrown back was
lady with the most strangely and per-
fectly beautiful face / had ever seen.
It's beauty YVES indeed perfect. 1t was
as if the Venus of Milo had become
animated and flushed with rich yet
delicate sweep of color through her
veins, and had been srrayed in stylish
but quiet dress of perfect fit and fault.
less fashion. The chief beauty of the
face was in the full, deep, fathomless
brown eyes, over which arched a brow
delicate yet distinct as If penciled in
India ink. The mouth and smooth
fair chin that melted into an ideal
column of neck and throat had an ex-
preston of sweet strength and much
of character. 1t was not the beauty
of girlhood, but the perfected
blossom of woman in the
full maturity of her charms. The
beauty was strange, for GROWING this
fair unwrinkled brow, fresh young
complexion and perfect face, was q
wealth of wsvy, snow white hair.
Brsids OF silvery cleaning were but
half concealed by the tasteful bonnet.
By her side sat boy of six, in whose
face was likeness, yet difference,
with curls of chestnut brown, cluster
ing around full white forehead.
An obstructing street car had made
a pause in the procession, and we,
slowly ssuntering, passed within few
feet of the carriage. Its occupant
raised the brown eyes with a mo-
ment's interest, and looked me in the
face. The deep liquidity, the rich
color, the arched brow and the snowy
waves above it made picture 1 shall
never lose. turned to Bob as the
moved again.
"What q beautiful face, and what a
strange trick nature has played upon
itp l exclaimed.
"0b you mean the lady in the car
riage2" he asked.
Certainly. Whom else should l
meanI 1 have never seen 30 perfect |
4 lace, nor 90 strange an effect, I re-
Piled.
Eyes, she is called the most beauti-
tul woman in the city, / believe. But"
be added, cher beauty is the leaet in
,eresting thing about her. She would
be respected and admired IL she were
Ugly as an alligator"
"Who is she?" l asked. "Identify
Ter. Tell me what there Is 80 inter
sting conc erning her that it can out
Weigh those eyes and that curve from
hin point to ear 2"
''Lst us turn back and walk on the
ri6ge," said Bob, land I'll tell you"
We turned and Bob tn ew cigar
lump into the Cumberland and asked
1oughkully, "Do you remember the